Growing up in New Jersey, Jennifer Paskow spent hours in her bedroom singing songs from Annie, The King and I, The Sound of Music, Oliver! and other Broadway shows, alternating with sitting at the piano with her clipboard, writing songs in the mode of Carole King.
With admiration for Raffi and his child-honoring philosophy, and inspired by the spirit of her favorite album from childhood, Free to Be … You and Me, Jennifer Paskow’s objective with Make A Circle was to make a recording that would feel like a hug for humanity. Produced by Don Boyette (Michael Jackson, Stevie Nicks, Gary Clark, Jr.) and mixed and mastered by Robert Carranza (Jack Johnson, Beck, The Mars Volta, Los Lobos, Ozomatli), the album achieves and far surpasses Jennifer’s goal.
Make A Circle leads off by showcasing Jennifer Paskow’s rich, honeyed voice on Make A Circle, whose central message is to extend your love to others by learning to love yourself. The “love” theme continues with “The I Love You Song,” a peppy and very danceable straight up ode to affection. “On The Inside,” an anthem to self-esteem, encourages young people to look within to discover their intrinsic value. “Listen to Your Heart” sets its lyrics to a musical heartbeat and encourages a contemplative looking within for answers.
You can watch Jennifer sing Make A Circle HERE.
“I Am A Tree” connects us to one another and Mother Earth by presenting the metaphor of a tree connecting to the earth as an emblem of the oneness of all things, while “Celebrate This Day” urges physical movement to express the sheer joy of life. Continuing the celebration theme, Jennifer Paskow’s version of “This Little Light of Mine” is a manifestation of traditional hand-clapping gospel exuberance.
Celestial bodies receive their due in the wrap-up of this beautiful album. The soothing sounds of “Hello Moon” depict the wonder of being connected to nature and the universe, while “Long Time Sun” is an Irish blessing that Jennifer Paskow often sings at the end of the classes she teaches.
A trained music therapist and children’s music and yoga teacher, Jennifer Paskow has been an exponent of healing since she was a child. When not recording or performing publicly, Jennifer can be found teaching music at preschools and in a variety of “Parent and Me” music class settings, teaching yoga to kids living in shelters, and sharing her music with hospitalized children and their families as a volunteer with the acclaimed organization The Art of Elysium. Says Jennifer, ”Singing for kids in the hospital is a real highlight for me. I always walk away feeling joyfully inspired and rooted in my purpose. I’ve been doing community service since I was nine years old, and the ideas of giving back and supporting my community are deeply ingrained in my being. I believe in the interconnectedness of all life and that, as we give, we are receiving.”
MAKE A CIRCLE TRACK LIST:
Make A Circle
The I Love You Song
On The Inside
I Am
Listen To Your Heart
I Am A Tree
Celebrate This Day
This Little Light Of Mine
Hello Moon
Long Time Sun
The I Love You Song (acoustic)
Make A Circle will be available on iTunes, Amazon, and CDBaby.
Uplifting music is the best! Thanks for sharing.